6 bodies found in SoCal gated community

October 6, 2008 1:08:39 PM PDT

By CHRISTINA HOAG

LOS ANGELES - October 6, 2008 - --

Los Angeles police say a father who was despondent over finances killed five family members and himself over the weekend in an upscale home. Deputy Chief Michel Moore says the other victims were the man's wife, three children and mother-in-law. He says the shootings happened sometime after 6 p.m. Saturday and the bodies were discovered Monday morning.

Their names have not been released. Police say the 45-year-old father was unemployed and previously worked at an accounting firm and Sony Pictures. He left two suicide letters.

The children were ages 19, 12 and 7.

The home is in a gated community in the San Fernando Valley, about 23 miles northwest of downtown but still within Los Angeles city limits. The bodies were found after officers were asked to check on the residents.